Developmental Stages of Child Development

Raising a child is one of the most wondrous and most challenging things you'll ever do. Watching your daughter or son develop physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually into an adult will be a source of joy, although there will inevitably be some twists and turns along the way. Being your child's guide and guardian is a privilege, but just like all privileges, it comes with responsibilities - namely, a duty to be well informed about your child's developmental needs.

Child Development Milestones

Developmental milestones for kids come in several categories. There's physical development and growth, speech development, motor skill development, social development, etc. The developmental stages you need to look out for will change as your child gets older. From birth until the age of 1 year, for example, the developmental milestones your baby achieves will be a lot different to those he goes through the following year.

Your pediatrician will be able to provide you with an overview of the developmental goals your child should be achieving for his specific age. There are also plenty of online resources providing more information on this topic.

Physical Growth

One of the most fun aspects for kids of child development is the simple fact of getting taller. Toddlers and young children just love the idea that they're becoming big boys and girls. Keeping track of your child's growth is a fun way of family bonding, and boosting your child's self-esteem and confidence, as he sees the progress he is making.

Child Growth Charts

One way of monitoring child growth development milestones is to use a growth chart. There are charts designed for use by parents - these usually give information and child growth statistics related to the expected rate of normal growth for children in your child's age range, including what is normal for boys and girls (who grow at different rates).

If you want to include your child in this process, why not buy a child development growth chart for the wall? You can buy these online or in kids' toy stores. These can be as simple as long, rectangular posters for wall. They come in all different colors, styles and in themes enjoyed by little girls and boys, and with a measurement bar marked on. You can even sit down to make a chart with your child, and give him a chance to have his artwork displayed in your home.

The idea is that your child or children take turns to stand up against the growth chart and have their height measured. You can then make a game out of recording the measurement, and comparing it to the last time you measured your child's height. Then a little celebration or treat might be in order...

You can also take this time to educate your child about health and nutrition. Explain to your child that he's taller now than he was 6 months ago because of all the healthy fruit and vegetables he eats every day. Hopefully this will encourage him to eat more!

Of course, you need to make sure that you don't measure your child's height every day. The gradual increases will be so small and so commonplace as to take all the fun out of the experience.

Parenting Styles And Child Development

Throughout the history of child development research, experts have had different theories as to how parenting techniques impact on child development. We all know that what you feed your kids is very important for their physical growth and health, but what about their emotional, intellectual and social growth? Do we as parents have the ability to mold our children into well-adjusted, confident adults?

Developmental psychologists say the answer is yes - to a certain degree. There are no guarantees when it comes to child development, but parents can do a lot to help their children develop socially and academically.

Child care trends are constantly fluctuating. There are parents who believe in spanking and parents who don't, parents who give their children a lot of freedoms and parents who are more cautious - the key is to find a system that works for you AND your kids.

Child psychologists generally say that's important to instill respect for guidelines in your children, but to be open to their questions and to reward them for the things they do well. It's also important to show them that it's ok to try something and fail, as long as you try your best.

If you want some guidance yourself, ask your doctor about parenting classes, or try a parenting guidebook written by a professional with verifiable credentials.